diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts
index 421d3ef8f2..7fea417d5a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/schema.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export function isRequired(constraints: FieldConstraints | undefined) {
   const isRequired =
     !!constraints &&
     ((typeof constraints.presence !== "boolean" &&
-      !constraints.presence?.allowEmpty) ||
+      constraints.presence?.allowEmpty === false) ||
       constraints.presence === true)
   return isRequired
 }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/tests/schema.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/tests/schema.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..664e95a42a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/tests/schema.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { isRequired } from "../schema"
+
+describe("schema utilities", () => {
+  describe("isRequired", () => {
+    it("not required by default", () => {
+      const result = isRequired(undefined)
+      expect(result).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it("required when presence is true", () => {
+      const result = isRequired({ presence: true })
+      expect(result).toBe(true)
+    })
+
+    it("not required when presence is false", () => {
+      const result = isRequired({ presence: false })
+      expect(result).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it("not required when presence is an empty object", () => {
+      const result = isRequired({ presence: {} })
+      expect(result).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it("not required when allowEmpty is true", () => {
+      const result = isRequired({ presence: { allowEmpty: true } })
+      expect(result).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it("required when allowEmpty is false", () => {
+      const result = isRequired({ presence: { allowEmpty: false } })
+      expect(result).toBe(true)
+    })
+  })
+})